New owner for Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning roster

The worse team in the NHL this season, the Tampa Bay Lightning, has a new owner. The club was sold Monday to Palm Beach businessman Arthur L. Williams, who is the founder and former owner of A.L. Williams & Associates insurance company.

While terms of the sale were not disclosed, Williams' offer is believed to be comparable to the $130 million that Detroit Pistons owner William Davidson reportedly had offered.

"Art Williams offered the most financially sound proposal of any of the groups who pursued the team," Lightning president and CEO Chuck Hasegawa said in a statement. "Our desire in selling the team was to insure our fans and the community that we had seriously-committed ownership. Mr. Williams will provide that support."

Williams didn't attend a news conference because he is traveling abroad.

"Tampa Bay is a wonderful community and I so look forward to next season. I can't wait to close and get started," Williams said in a statement.

Tampa Bay had been owned since their inception six years ago by Japanese businessman Takashi Okubo, who never attended their games and only met commissioner Gary Bettman once.

With their 17-55-10 record the Lightning was the worst team in regular season. They fired their only coach they ever had, Terry Crisp and had their share of internal turmoil.

New ownership can only be a good thing for the Lightning at this point.